Spring break is here at last. Unfortunately, semesters don’t always end when a college student’s vacation begins. Learning to manage working while enjoying your time off is an essential skill for college life and beyond!

First: Make a plan. Since your brain is still in college mode, take advantage of it. Just as you do in the regular semester, put what you have to get done and related deadlines on a calendar and make a schedule to be sure you study some each day and more on days you aren’t actively involved in extracurricular fun. Making a plan now will prevent stress later and keep you from completely losing the rhythm of academic life.

Tell your family, friends and roommates that you have some work to do over the break. Letting people know in advance that you must do some homework over the break will make it easier for you to get it done. This way you won’t have to deal with others’ disappointment when you can’t do everything they’d planned with them. Also, they’re more likely to help by reminding you of your plans and giving you space and time to stick to them.

Keep up on your sleep and nutrition, and avoid ill people if possible. You don’t want to have to make up for losing a week of classes after coming back from a week off and get that much further from your college work and world.

Use the city library if you need a quiet place. Working at home, or wherever you’re spending break, may be difficult. Don’t forget that city libraries are almost everywhere (including tropical Spring Break getaways). They can be great places to work for a few hours in peace.

Use time waiting in airports, on long car rides or during bad weather days to study. Even intermittent studying will help your retention and processing and make returning to academic life easier. Use earplugs to block noise, or if you feel like you might need a disguise to avoid being forced to converse, wear earbuds and take an iPod and pretend it’s on when studying in a public place.

Just as important as studying regularly and using downtime to work is making back-up copies of your materials. Carrying notes and computers opens the possibility that they may get lost or damaged. Make back-up travel drives, e-mail work, photocopy or scan in notes, and, as always, save your work in at least two places.

Finally, if this is an appropriate time in your academic career to gain real-world experience,consider alternate Spring Break trips that focus on volunteer work for well-known organizations. These may include local entities such as Habitat for Humanity or domestic violence shelters. Some trips could involve living on and working at a camp for the disabled, a Native American reservation, a nature reserve, or going out of the country. Regardless of where you go, volunteer work can broaden your perspective and shape your goals.

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Plan ahead to maintain your academic rhythm over Spring Break

By Texas State SLAC

Plan time to study over Spring Break.

Spring Break is almost here! Unfortunately, semesters don’t always end when a college student’s vacation begins. Learning to manage working while enjoying your time off is an essential skill for college life and beyond.

First: Make a plan. Since your brain is still in college mode, take advantage of it. Just as in the regular semester, put what you have to get done and related deadlines on a calendar and make a schedule to be sure you study some each day and more on days you aren’t actively involved in extracurricular fun. Making a plan now will prevent stress later and keep you from completely losing the rhythm of academic life. Continue reading →

Keep your focus, refresh over
spring break and finish strong

Choose a comfortable study area and pace yourself. Don't forget about assignments due after spring break!

Midterms are underway at Texas State. The onset of spring complicates matters. With longer days and warmer weather, spring fever can set in. While the break brings some rest, don’t forget about homework, papers and projects due when you return. Neglecting school work is an easy way to finish the semester with grades you hadn’t hoped for.

Summer is only a few weeks away. Hang in there! Follow these tips to keep your focus through this critical part of the semester. Continue reading →

What did you do over spring break?

Lacy Davis, photography major, spent the majority of spring break in her hometown of New Braunfels. “I hung out with my family, and worked in the prime outlets at Hartmanns.”

Kirsti Smithwick, sophomore

“I worked for the first part of spring break, but got to enjoy SXSW and the free music later in the week,” said Kirsti Smithwick, education major. “My favorite performance was by Kevin DeVine.”

Josh Henfey, freshman

Josh Henfey, communication disorders major, enjoyed his spring break on South Padre Island. “We spent a lot of time at Coca-Cola beach, and I also watched a performance by Ghostland Observatory.”

Ashley Meeks, junior

“I went on a family vacation to Washington D.C.,” said Ashley Meeks, nutrition major. “We visited the White House and went sightseeing. It was a good trip!”

Jamie Lahiere, sophomore

“I got to watch Wiz Khalifa and Trey film their new music video, ‘Gettin’ Paid’,” said management major Jamie Lahiere. “It was being filmed at a mansion in Westlake, a community in Austin, and it was really cool.”

Richard Furin, junior

“I went to Panama City, Florida for spring break. It was sunny all week, and we hung out at the beach mostly,” said Richard Furin, acting major.

Fun-loving flat cat seeks company, well-heeled, will travel

GRAND PRIZE!

Remember Flat Stanley? Well, Texas State’s own Bob the Cat (you’ll remember him from this video) has gone flat to tag along on your spring break gallivanting. In other words, please enter the Flat Bob Spring Break photo contest. You’ll get a Texas State window decal just for participating. Continue reading →